Machinery to be employed in the doubling ob



June 25, 1929 H. s. THOMAS ET AL MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEDOUBLING OR FOLDING OFTMETALLIC PLATES OR SHEETS Filed Oct. 5, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet June 25, 1929. H. s. THOMAS ET AL MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYEDIN THE DOUBLING 0R FOLDING OF METALLIC PLATES OR SHEETS Filed Oct. 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Hu/W5 Spence Thomas fin/61250729 June 25, 1929. H. s.THOMAS ET AL 1.718.392

- MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE DOUBLING OF,

FOLDING OF METALLTC PLATES OR SHEETS med oct. 6, 1927 s sheets-sheet sPatented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT SPENCE THOMAS AND WILLIAM ROBERT DAVIES, F WHITCHURCH, WALES.

MACHINERY T0 BE EMPLOYED IN THE DOU'BLING OR FOLDNG OF METALLIC PLATESOR SHEETS.

Application filed October 6, 1327, Serial No. 224,421, and in GreatBritain October 21, 1926.

This invention relates to machinery to bc employed in the, douhlm ui' orfolding of metallic plates or sheets as for example the machineryemployed in the manufacture of tin plates whereby the preliminarydoubling or folding operations are performed for obtain ine' from thepieces or bars of steel what are lerhnically known as black plates.

The present invention has for its object the provision of improvedmachinery or ineclmnism whereby the said operation of doubling orfolding; metallic plates or sheets by the application of endwisepressure can be carried into eifect.

The invention consists of improved .macl'iinery to be employed in thedoubling' or foldinggj of metallic plates or sheets embody ingr inwardlymoving' and pivotally mounted members adapted to exert end pressure onthe 'plates or sheets, said members preferably beine; iu the form ofpendulun'i-like members adapted for mechanical oscillation and preferably co-ope 'ating' with a mechanically operated lifting); member theoperati on whereof is synelu'onized with that of the pendulumlikemembers whereby subsequent to the foldiuu' or doubling of the plate orsheet the said lifting member is brought into operation to feed thedoubled or folded plate or sheetto a pair of li fling' rolls.y whicheffect the completion of the doublingl of the plates or sheets and thedirection of the doubled plates or sheets to a pair of transfer rollswhich in turn direct the plates or sheets to a collecting' tray or othermechanisms. The invention also resides in the provision in conjunctionwith the pendulum-like members of pivotally mounted pressure plates adapted to apply pressure to the partially doubled or folded plates forellectingr a further doubling or fol ding` operation on the plates orsheets. The invention further resides in the provision of an adjustableplatform for permittingl of a variation in the amount of overlap to hegiven to the plates or sheets when doubled or fr ded The invention stillfurther resides in the provision of an adjustable side, :Guide forprcvemaingl lateral displacement o the plates or sheets Curingv thedoubling or foldiug operation. The invention also resides in the detailsof construction and in the douliilinej or folding machine as a whole.

The invention will now be described with particular reference to theaccompanying sheet of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a part sectional front elevation of a doubling or folding'machine constructed in accordance with the invention and illustratingthe pemlulumslike members in their outermost posit-ion with a plate orsheet in position in readiness for a doubling or foldme` operation thestructural steel work for supporting the machine being shown in chainline.

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 with the pendulum-like membersshown in the position they occupy at the completion of a doubling' orfolding` operation, and

Figure $3 is an end elevation of the machine in the position seen inFigure 2.

In the drawings like numerals of referenceJ indicate similar parts inthe `several ligures.

A pair of har members 4 are secured adjacent their upper ends onspindles 5 rotatably mounted in bearings carried by a supporting'framework G. Bolted to the lower portions of the rear 'faces of each ofthe bars el, which may be regarded as constituting' pendulumlikemembers, and spaced therefrom by distance pieces 7a, is a guide plate 7the space obtaining' between the inner face of the guide plate and therear face of the members constituting' av `guide-way for a sliding block8. The said blocks 8 are each provided with trunnion-like pins 9 whichproject on either side of the blocks 8 and have connection with a pairof continuous roller driving chains 10 there being; two chains 10 toeach pendulumlike member 1l disposed one on either side of the saidmembers 4. Each chain l() passes around four rotatably mounted sprocketwheels 11 11b, 11C, 1ld respectively so arranged that each chain 10follows a trapezium-like path the outermost pairs of sprocket wheels 11dand 11b having their axles disposed in a plane which is parallel to thel0n- `gitndinal axis of the respective pendulum* like member Ll when thesaid member is in its outermost position a. seen in Figure V1. Theinnern'iost pairs of sprocket wheels 11C and ll have their axlesdisposed in a plane which is inclined away from the vertical axis of themachine as a whole. One pair of chains l0 is driven from a commondriving shaft 12 through a pinion gear 13 and 14 and the other pair ofchains driven from the main driving shaft through a chain 15.

Pivotafily mounted in the upper portion of each bar-like member a is ashaft 16 to which is secured a pressure plate 17 of substantially frectangularshape said plates being disposed on the inner sides of thebar-like ymembers-l. Also-secured to the aforesaid a' vertical plane isai bar-like lifting member 18 the upper end whereof is formed of aspear-like shape the base of the blade-like `portion 18 whereofterminates in a pair of laterally extending horizontally disposedshoulders 18b`which' in' the normal position of the lifting bar 18 arelocated in the plane containing the edges of the undoubled plate orsheet .20 Vwhen placed Vinlposition in the machine`for doubling saidblade-like por-1 tion 18"L serving to cause the plate or sheet to takean upwardly curved or cambered form or to'increase the normal arched orcambered form of the plate or sheet when the plate or sheet is placed inthe machine in readiness for doubling or fold-ing.

'lhe lower section of the bar-like lifting member 18 is provided with anelongated slot 18 in the lower portion whereof is rotatably mounted apulley 21. around which passes a rope 22 the intermediate portionswhereof pass aroundpulleys Q3 disposed on either side of lthe liftingbar said. rope having weiglitsjQll` attached to the ends thereof. Thepulleys .23 around which the intermediate portions of the rope 21 passare mounted on spindles supported in bearings carried by hangers 25'depending from the framework 6. The bar-like lifting'- member 18 isprovided intermediate yits ends witha pair of" parallel laterallyextending arms 26 which are disposed in. the path of the trunnion-like4pins 9 on the blocks 8 when the saidy pins 9 are traversingthefoutwardly inclined sections of the chain path so that when the saidpins 9 are traversing the said section of thepath they bear on theunderside of the arms 26 and raise the bar-like lifting `memberl 18, thesaid member 18 auton'iatically falling tothe lower position uponthefpassage of the pins 9 to the outward and horizontal sections oftheir travel. the weights 24 permitting of this movement obtainingwithout undue shock to the machine. The upper portion of the barn likelifting :member 18 is formed with a slot 18d within which engages arectangular guide block-28 secure/dto `the framework 6 said block28 inconjunction with the-slot 18d serving to ensure the true vertical motionof the said lifting member.

rearmost pair of links preferably having attached thereto a lever 32provided with'a positioning plunger adapted to co-operate with aplurality of holes 33 formed in a quadrant 233 whereby the angle ofinclination ofthe y platformQQ relatively to the other latfo'rm 30 .maybe varied .for the purpose o perlnitting of an adjustment of the amountof overlap to be given to the plates or sheets Subsequent tothe foldingor doubling operation.

In order to preserve the position of the plate during a doublingoperation' therefalrer disposed on each side of 4the machine 'guideplates B/l and 35 respectively consisting of strips of sheet metal bent'to a segmental shape one of these `guide plates" 34 bieingearri ed by abracket 36 adjustably mountedrlativc to the framework. 'The other guide35 is fixed to a bracket 3T mounted on one arm of a bell crank lever 38the other arm whereof is provided with an inclined track 39 whichco-operates with a rotatabl mounted roller 110 carried by one of the penulum-Iike members 4. the said roller 40 being ada ted to ride on thesur-tace of the inclined* ane as the pendulum-like member carrying -theVl roller approaches its innermost position The 'arm of the bell cranklever .carr 'ngthe guide is anchored to one end ofa coi spring Ll1 theother end of which is attached tofa bracket fixed to the framework 6.

Disposed ahove the pendulum-likemembers Ll are a pair of lifting rolls42 the nip whereof is disposed in the plane containing the vertical axisof the machine the lifting rolls serving to receive the folded ordoubled plate and to complete the folding or doubling yoperation andalso to pass the doubled or folded .plates either to ajpair of transferrolls which in turn. direct or pass the sheets to a collectingr platformor to a shearing or other mechanism.

The operation of the machine is as follows The plate 20 to be doubled isplaced on the oppositely inclined platforms`.29,'30 when thependulum-like members Ily are in their outermost position, see Figure 1.The angle of inclination of the movable platform '29 is then adjusted bymea-neef the lever to give the desired amount of overlap in order toavoid unnecessary wastage #and the adjustable .guide 34 set so. that theguides-34 and 35 4are spaced a slightly greaterdistance apart than thewidth of the plate Q0 whereby undue friction on the plate during theinitial stages of the doubling or folding operations is prevented. Thedriving shaft l2 is then caused to rotate and thereby to ciiect thetravel of the chains 1,0 about the sprockets 11, 11b, 1l and l1 theright hand pair of chains l() rotating in a clockwise direction and theleft hand pair oli chains in an anti-cloclwisel direction. lVhen thepins 9 connected to the slide blocks 8 are following the section oil?the chain paths disjposed parallel to the pendulum-like members 1L whenin the outermost position it will be understood that no oscillation ofthe pendulum-like members Il will be involved as the slide blocks 8 willmerely partake ot a sliding motion in their guideways. Upon. the pins 9on the chains entering the lower horizontal section of the chain path inwhich section the pins 9 travel towards the centre of the machine thependulum-like members l. are drawn towards one another and thorebycaused to eXert pressure on the ends ot the plate or sheet 2O and toeliect a doubling' or folding thereof. This doubling or tolding proceedsuntil the perululum-lilie members l approach one another whereupon thepartially doubled or folded plate or sheet comes into Contact with thepressure plates 17 pivotally mounted in the upper portion ol thependulum-like members 4- and as the said members come closer togetherthe pressure plates 17 align themselves to the plate Q0 by reasonoftheir pivotal n'iounting and etlect the completion of the doublingopera.- tion. As the pendulum-like members a approach their innermostpositions the member 4 carrying the roller Ll0 causes the said roller toride on the inclined plane 39 whereby the bell crank lever 3S is causedto turn about its pivot to move the guide 35 inwardly into contact withthe edge of the plate and to move the plate into contact with the guide84C thus preservingr a correct alignment of the plate in order to ensurea true line of fold during the linal doubling or folding operation. Whenthe pendulumlike arms are in their innermost positions the pins D on thechains commence to move into the upward and outwardly inclined sectionsoi their path whereby the blocks 8 are caused to move away from thecentre ci" the machine thereby elfecting a slight opening motion of thependulum-like members Simultaneously with this openingI movement of thependulum-like members the pins Contact with the underside oi' the arms26 on the bar-like lifting member 18 and carry the said bar verticallyupwards whereby the blade-like port-ion 18 oi the said member engagesbetween the lower ends ot the folded plate 0r sheet so that the loweredges thereot' rest on the shoulders 18 at the base ol'v the said bladeportion and as the member 18 is `plate or sheet 20 partakes ol the sameinotion until ultimately it is directed into the nip ot the liitingrolls il0 which in turn cooperate with the trans'tcr rolls which directthe plate or sheet to a collecting platform or. to a conveyor or to ashearing or other mechanism.

It will be appreciated that by reason ot the slight opening movement otthe peiululumlike member et which obtains prior to and during theraising ot the litt-ing member' 'iii the tendency to a buckling oi theplate which would normally occur is avoided. Further, the guides and 35at each side et `the machine permit of the adaptation ot the machine tovarious sir/es oi' plates or sheets and also prevent the lateralmovement oli the plate or sheet during` the 'l'olding or doublingoperation. v

A doubling or `folding machine as hereinbeiore described efficient inoperation and capable oit continuous operation with a minimum oi'attention.

lVl at we claim is I l. Machinery to be employed iu the doubling otmetallic plates comprising pendulum-like members, meal s ior oscillatingsaid pendulum-like members in opposite directions whereby the saidu'ieinbers on their inward motion may exert end pressure on the platesand effect a doubling thereof, a pai r o'lf lifting rolls, amechanically operated lifting member, means tor synchronizing theoperation of the said lifting member with that ot the pendulum-likemembers whereby subsequent to the doubling o'l' the plate the liftingmember is brought into operation to feed a doidileev plate to the saidylifting rolls.

f2. Machinery to be employer-l in the doubling ofmctallic platescomprising a fixed framework, a pair o'll pendulum-like membersiiivotally mounted relatively to said tramework, a power source, endlessdrivinfrvehains having connection with said irieiululmn-like members andadapted to be driven from said power source, said chains etl'ecting anopposed oscillation of the penduliun-like members whereby end pressureisexerted on the plates for eliccting a doubling thereof on the inward.motion of the said members.

3. Machinery to be employed in the doul'iling ot metallic platescomprising a lixed traineworlo a pair ot pemlulum-lilnx memberspivotally mounted relatively to said iframeworli, a guide ay termed ineach of the pendulum-lile members, a sliding block mounted in eachguideway? a powerisource. endless driving chains adapted to be drivenfrom said power source and means for connecting said blocks to thedrivin chains, said chains citer-ting an opposed oscillation ot' thependulumlike members whereby the said members on their inward movementare caused to exert end pressure on the plates to be doubled.

lOO

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Il. Machinery to be employed in the doublingvof. metallicplates*comprising a fixed framework, a pairof pendulum-like memberspivotallyV mounted relatively to said frame- `work, a plurality ofsetsof sprockets the axles ofeach set whereofare arranged in a trape-Ziu1n-like form so that the planes containing the axles of the outermostsprockets are disposed,parallel' to' the yrespective pendulumlike1nembe1.s"\'vhen in their outermost positions and the axles of theinnermost sprockets located in planes inclined outwardly and upwardlyfrom t-he central axis/of the fixed framework, endless driving chainsadapted to pass around said sprockets, means for connecting thependulum-like members to s-aid driving chains and means for effectingthe rotation of said sprockets whereby the endless driving chainsconnected to the one pendulum-like member are constrained to move in -anopposite direction to the chains connected to the other pendulum-likemember so that the said chains effect an oscillation of thependulum-like members and cause the said members on their inwardmovement to exert end pres'- sure on the plates for effecting a doublingthereof.

5. Machineryi to be employed in the doulbling of `metallic platescomprising affixed framework, a pair of pendulum-like members pivotal'lymounted relative to said framework, a plurality of setsof sprockets theaxles of each set whereof are arranged ina trapezium-like form, endlessdriving chains adapted to pass around the sets of sprockets', means Aforconnecting the pendulum-like members to the respective endless chains`means for effect- ;ing the rotationof the sprockets whereby the saidchains are caused to effect an opposed 0scillation of the pendulum-likemembers, a lifting member, projections onsaid lifting member, means onsaid chains for contacting with thel projections on the vlifting memberAwhen Itheendless chains are travelling in the innermostportion of theirpaths, and a platelike portion at the upper end of said lifting memberfor giving to the plate a doubled and arched form or eamber when theplate is placed in the machine in readiness forra doubling operation.

6. Machinery to' be employed in the doubling of metallic platescomprisinga :fixed framework, a pair of pendulum-like members pivotallymounted relatively to said framework, pressure plates pivotallymountedhin the upper portion of said pendulum-like members,counterbalancing means for Asaid pressure plates for lcausing the saidplates to align themselves readily to the plate to be doubled during adoubling operation, a plurality of sets of sprockets mounted in the saidframework, endless driving chains adapted to be passed around saidsprockets, means for connecting said pendulum-like members tosaiddriving chains, :means for effecting the rotation of sidr sprocketsWhereby the chainsare caused toffect an oscillation ofi the'penduhlrmlikeeme rsa fixed platform for supporting oneend mthe plate ltobe doubled, anadjustablecplatform for supporting the other'andofl theplutebto be doubled theadjustment provided-neming to control the amountof #even-luglio be f to the doubled platepa pazir of liftngarolls, alifting member,a blade-'like upper portion on said member for;givingtherplatemn im ital arched or cambered formaiiomjpro- `jections onsaid lifting memberi andrmenns on said endless chains foreffetztng alifting-of the said member w'henfthe1 :Smid imams; are traversing theinnermost portions of "the chain paths. i

7 Machinery to be employedimthedoubling of metallic platescomprisng'a'ffimed framework, a pair of oppoatalyiadingvpen- `dulum-likemembers: pivotal-1yr :mounted neL yUl) said plate, means yfor bnngneaiddastlmeny tioned guide into operation uningi the later stages of thedoubling operation vonlynaili'fting member. a pair of liftingrollsameans for effecting the lifting f the-'said lifting -membersubsequent to the completion of thef'doubling operation whereby thedoubled pltes fed to the lifting rolls andfmeanszforzeoun tei-balancingthe said liftingmember.

8. Machinery to? be employ/edi` the den bling of metallic platescomprising-a fixed framework, pairs of pendulumllikermembers pivotally`mounted relatively@ #atad-framework, pairs of endless drivingchains-adapts ed to rotate in opposite directionsfmeans for driving saidchains, means'A for connecting said membersto saidchainsfalpafiriof-lfeed rolls. a lifting member for effecting theraising of the doubling plate tolsaid. rolls,means for liftingsaidmemher subsequent@ the wttainment by said pendulum-like'members-Dftheir innermost positions, `lneanshfor efiectf` in g a slight outwardmovemenbofithe pendulum members prior tothe actuationff the ISaidlifting member, pressure plates pvotally mounted in the upper portionioftheeaid pendulum-like members, a fixed; platform l for supporting oneend of *the `plate to-badouhled, an adjustable platformV for supportingfthe other end of the plate to be-doubledfan aadine :instable guide forpreserving the position of one side of the plate to be doubled, a guidefor the other side of the plate to be doubled, ineens for bringing thelast mentioned guide o into operation only at the later stages of thedoubling;- operation :1nd a plate-like portion of the Said liftingmember oi' giving :in

initial arched o1l oalnbeieol formation to the plates to he doubledprioi' to the oo1n1nencenient of the doubling operation. 10 In testimonywhereof We have signed our naines to this specification.

HUBERT SPENCE THCMASa WLLIAM ROBERT DAVIES.

